title: Decompression sickness in the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Project.
abstract: In the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Project (MRT), 11 km of underground tunnels were built using compressed air. 1,737 compressed air workers (CAWs) were employed in the project. They underwent 188,538 man decompressions at the various compressed air worksites. 160 CAWs developed Type I decompression sickness (DCS) and 4 developed Type II DCS. This gave an overall incidence of 0.087%. The adoption of strict medical selection, strict adherence to decompression procedures and the provision for acclimatization of newstarters contributed greatly to this low incidence. Prompt treatment of DCS accounted for the low relapse rate. The clinical presentation of DCS is discussed here. Prevention of DCS by worksite environmental and work-practice monitoring are advocated.
authors.affiliation: Republic of Singapore Navy, Ministry of Defence, Singapore.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: How
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vijayan
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012846:Singapore